Hibs weigh up appeal over Terry Butcher dugout ban

IAIN COLLIN

HIBERNIAN were on Thursday night mulling over a possible appeal against the SFA suspension that will deny Terry Butcher his place in the dugout for his first match in charge of the team against St Mirren tomorrow.

The two-game ban, one of which is suspended for the remainder of the season, will stop the new Easter Road manager from taking a full part in his debut game in charge in Paisley.

The former Motherwell and Inverness Caley Thistle boss has spoken in glowing terms of his partnership with assistant Maurice Malpas since taking over in the capital and will be forced to rely on his long-term sidekick even more than usual after being dealt yesterday’s blow.

As per SFA rules, Butcher will be prevented from occupying “a place in or in the vicinity of the players’ tunnel, technical area or substitutes’ bench or on the track or playing surface” from an hour before kick-off and will not be able to rejoin his squad until five minutes after the full-time whistle.

He will, however, be permitted to take his place in his team’s dressing-room and deliver his pre-match team talk as usual.

Privately, though, Hibs are understood to be reviewing yesterday’s disciplinary tribunal ruling and whether to challenge the severity of the sentence.

The 54-year-old, who was also handed a £1,000 fine, is being made to pay for his actions during last month’s tempestuous League Cup win over Dundee United at the Caledonian Stadium.

Butcher admitted breaching disciplinary rule 203, which alleged ‘misconduct at a match by failing to behave in a responsible manner as an occupant of the technical area by acting in an aggressive manner towards players of the opposing team’.

A Hibs spokesperson said: “The club have received the outcome from the SFA and will consider over the next 24 hours the next appropriate step to take.”